The former Newington College teacher accused of raping a student at the prestigious Sydney private school is still being paid by the Department of Education while on bail for a string of alleged child abuse offences.

Deandra Kontou, 32, was arrested last week following allegations she sexually assaulted and groomed a student in her care, with detectives believing the child was under 16 at the time of the alleged offending.

Kontou, who taught geography at the all-boys school for two years before leaving in 2019, was charged with nine sex offences following a lengthy investigation.

The charges include aggravated sexual assault of a victim under her authority, grooming a child for unlawful sexual activity, and aggravated charges relating to inciting sexual acts, sexual touching, and using a carriage service to groom a child for sex.

Last week, Kontou was granted conditional bail to return to her home in Sydney’s south, where it’s understood she remains employed at Georges River College Senior Campus.

Kontou was teaching society and culture, history, and geography at the co-educational school until her arrest last week, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.

While she was removed from the school as detectives laid charges against her, Kontou remains on the public payroll and has been placed on ‘alternative duties’ as she is banned from teaching children under the conditions of her bail.

The charges against her do not relate to her employment at the Oatley school, where she has worked since 2024.

Deandra Kontou, 32, was arrested after allegedly raping and grooming a student in her care. (She is pictured at a pre-wedding celebration in April 2017)

She remains on the public payroll having been suspended from teaching duties at Georges River College Senior Campus

Kontou in a staff school photo taken this year at Georges River College Senior Campus

Kontou is due to face Burwood Local Court on November 25.

It comes days after the acting deputy head of Newington College’s Stanmore campus, Mark Morrison, wrote to parents about the ‘distressing news’.

‘Please know that our thoughts first and foremost are with the [alleged] victim, survivor and their family,’ Mr Morrison said in the letter.

‘I acknowledge that this news may land differently for you depending on your personal circumstances and tenure at the College. We did feel it was important that you heard from the College and if you have any concerns, please contact me.’

Kontou, who went by her maiden name Haralambidis while teaching at Newington, was newly married when she took up the job in late 2017.

Just months prior, Kontou, who was known by the nickname ‘Miss Dee’ according to a post by her gym, was trying to shed weight before her wedding to husband George, who has since deleted his LinkedIn account.

‘Being a busy school teacher with growing life responsibilities, Deandra is to be commended on her consistent attendance to personal training and sessions on her own,’ her personal trainer shared in a post about her weight loss in February 2018.

In another post, her trainer commended Kontou for maintaining her gym routine while balancing ‘a busy work life as a school teacher and after-hours tutor’.

As part of her bail conditions, she must report to police weekly and is banned from entering any school or taking any teaching jobs that require contact with children

Kontou left Newington College in late 2019

When the Daily Mail attempted to reach family members for comment on Tuesday, some denied any relation to Deandra.

A woman who identified herself as the accused’s sister-in-law – the sister of her husband George – said, ‘I would prefer you not to stalk my [Facebook] account. I’ve got no further comment,’ before hanging up.

A Newington spokesperson told the Daily Mail: ‘As this matter is before the Courts, we are not able to provide any further comment at this time.’

The Daily Mail has contacted the NSW Department of Education and Georges River College Oatley Senior Campus for comment.

– READ MORE: Female Newington College teacher charged over alleged rape of student was a newlywed when she joined elite Sydney school – as fresh details and her nickname emerge